Hero Fiennes Tiffin didn’t rewatch Sherlock Holmes projects before filming 'Young Sherlock'

Fiennes says he deliberately avoided the older films becauce he wanted to build his own version

Hero Fiennes Tiffin revealed he made a surprising decision while preparing to play one of literature’s most famous detectives — he chose not to revisit any previous on-screen versions of Sherlock Holmes.

The actor stars in the new Prime Video series Young Sherlock, directed by Guy Ritchie, which explores the early life of the legendary detective. Despite being a longtime fan of the character, Tiffin said he intentionally avoided rewatching other portrayals while preparing for the role.

Tiffin explained that Sherlock had already been a big part of his life growing up, as his father was a fan of the stories and introduced him to different adaptations of the character. He particularly admired Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the BBC series Sherlock, which he said he had watched multiple times.

However, when it came time to play the character himself, the actor decided it was better not to revisit those versions. Tiffin said he felt he had already “naturally digested so much Sherlock” over the years and wanted to concentrate on telling the new story rather than being influenced by past performances.

The series focuses on a younger and more rebellious version of Sherlock Holmes before he becomes the legendary detective of Baker Street. The story follows him as he gets pulled into his first major murder investigation and begins forming the skills that will eventually define him.

Tiffin said portraying such a well-known character came with a sense of pressure because audiences already know what Sherlock will ultimately become. Instead, he wanted to show the character’s journey and growth — including how he develops his detective abilities and how his early friendship with James Moriarty eventually turns into rivalry.

Alongside Tiffin, the series also stars Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Natascha McElhone and Max Irons. The show is now streaming on Prime Video.

For Tiffin, the goal was simple: create a fresh take on Sherlock Holmes while still respecting the legacy of the iconic character.